Ex-candidate charged with threatening judges, others

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana woman who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress last year was being held Saturday on charges she made threats against judges and other officials on her Facebook account.

Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega – who said he was among those targeted – said he decided to move quickly after discovering the threats in part due to last week’s shootings in Arizona that wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others.

“I think the Arizona situation drove more to the sense of urgency,” Sonnega told the Associated Press.

Cheryl Allen, 51, of Martinsville, was being held on $100,000 bond Saturday in a jail in her hometown, about 28 miles south of Indianapolis. State police arrested her on eight felony counts of intimidation on Thursday, the same day authorities discovered the postings, which were apparently published on her page three days earlier.

Allen repeatedly maintained her innocence during a court hearing Friday. But after the charges were read, she said: “Someday, may someone get even with them,” according to the Reporter-Times. She could face four to 24 years in prison if convicted, state police said.

The alleged threats mentioned four Morgan County judges, and other public officials – including Sonnega – were mentioned by first name. Media reports said Allen had previously filed a discrimination lawsuit that was dismissed by a judge.

“One day I will have my revenge on your seeking so much revenge on me,” read one of the posts cited in media reports.

“Someday Boooooom while your setting in your offices,” read a second. “And you know I won’t even be the one pulling the trigger,” said another.